Greeting strangers in islamic countries
Feb 1st 2008, 11:22 am
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
Er spricht Deutsch noch besser als mich. Er spricht Franzosisch nicht so gut. Sein Englisch ist aber sehr mal..............
Last edited by The Dean; Feb 1st 2008 at 11:23 am. Reason: frog spelt wrong
Feb 1st 2008, 7:43 pm
#35
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
I've been in the ME for seven years, and my Arabic consists of the same,well, more pleasantries ,really.
Gute Nacht, schlaf gut
Feb 8th 2008, 8:21 am
#36
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Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Dubai
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
I have worked in Saudi Arabia with totally men mostly Saudi military in a hospital and had the best working relationship ever with no problems on either side. Just before Christmas I was invited to a farewell dinner with my husband and his colleagues all of whom were from different places in the world. One of them was a local guy from Al Ain and when I was introduced to him I held my right hand out to shake hands with him and and he turned round and said to someone "have you not told her about me". It felt like I was worse than a piece of doodoo on the bottom of my shoe. If I hadnt thought it was the correct thing to do I would never have dreamt of embarassing him. I found out later that he calls himself a traditional Emrati. He will never upset me again
Feb 8th 2008, 5:36 pm
#37
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
I have never come across such a rude person like that before. My husband's work colleague is an Emrati and even he could not believe how rude this person had been to me. What goes around comes around.............is one of my favourite saying
Feb 9th 2008, 9:56 am
#39
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
Feb 9th 2008, 5:14 pm
#40
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
it is expected of all guests in our glorious country that they bow down in awe and submission whenever we enter the room,and,not speak until spoken to...So beware...
Feb 10th 2008, 4:21 pm
#43
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Feb 12th 2008, 2:17 pm
#45
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Re: Greeting strangers in islamic countries
Certainly didn't mean to show any intolerance Inselaffen!
What I was trying to convey in my post but probably failed to do, was that patronising way in which some people use the greeting, trying to be in with the brothers, it happens quite a lot. Similar to how I suppose a black person would feel if someone came up to him and said "Aiii, 'nuff respect brother."
I know of one example where a couple of people bowed deeply in front of one of my colleagues. So odd that he was actually lost for words! I'd love to know what these people were thinking he was to do in return (probably fall to his knees and do a bow of his own
. )